JPECs pursue statewide reach for Venture Mentoring Service program The five John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers in Iowa are working to build out a statewide program fostering mentor relationships to help entrepreneurs expand their businesses. Last year the centers each launched their pilot phase of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Venture Mentoring Service program, a mentoring model […]

Iowa high school students are eligible for Business Horizons, a statewide summer innovation program offered annually by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry Foundation. The five-day program will be held July 16-20 at Drake University. The deadline to register is July 10. Students will develop problem-solving and leadership skills through entrepreneurial experiences and competitions. They will […]

Submitted by Mike Sellberg, chief of product and staff at Coviance One of the most challenging aspects of running an early-stage company is determining how to scale the business quickly and sustainably. This is a process that requires alignment across company leaders, sales professionals, marketing and product teams at every stage of growth, as well as […]

The Greater Des Moines Partnership has announced the participants for the second cohort of the Scale DSM Minority Business Accelerator program, which will run from June to December. Participants will complete Interise’s Streetwise MBA (minority business accelerator) curriculum, which centers practical, case-based peer learning for minority-led businesses. The 11 small business owners selected for the program […]

Lola’s CEO says retailers’ programs are coming into the ‘limelight’ For small businesses seeking growth for their consumer packaged goods brands, getting their products into grocery stores can be a challenge when a few conglomerate brands supply most of a store’s inventory. It’s a challenge Taufeek Shah, founder and CEO of Lola’s Fine Sauces, is […]

Home Base Iowa, America’s Small Business Development Center Iowa, and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State University have announced the Iowa Veterans Entrepreneurship Conference. The conference is open to veterans, military personnel, their families and business partners, and community members who support veteran entrepreneurs and business owners. In addition to keynote speakers and […]

The University of Northern Iowa Family Business Center will host Robert Pasin, chief wagon officer at Radio Flyer, during its Virtual Breakfast Series event on May 19. Pasin will speak about balancing the legacy of the business and the spirit of entrepreneurship that emerging leaders are experiencing. “One of the most powerful attributes of a […]

Four business ideas shared $5,000 in prize money at the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center Venture School Spring Pitch Competition on April 11. Paul Altvater of Level Up Bouldering won $2,400, for his idea of a combined rock-climbing, weight lifting and yoga studio. Alan Murdock took second place and an award of $1,200 […]

The North Iowa Area Community College John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center and the college’s Small Business Development Center are hosting a Business Transition Planning Workshop on Thursday, April 20. The event is designed for attorneys, banking associates, brokers, CPAs, business owners and community leaders and economic developers to attend. Christopher Proskey and James McCarthy of BrownWinick […]

The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce has announced seven finalists for the 2023 pitch competition presented by Bank of America at the third annual Athene Black & Brown Business Summit. The finalists were selected out of 47 applicants from across the U.S. including Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, Pennsylvania and several from […]